4.1 Properties of minerals



Vocabulary

Inorganic: means that materials cannot arise from materials that were once part of a living thing.
Crystal: The repeating pattern of minerals particles that form a solid called a crystal
Element: a substance composed of a separate kind of atom.
Compound: Two or more elements are combined so the elements no longer have distinct properties.
Streak: the streak of a mineral is the same color as the powder.
Luster: The term used to describe the way the rock deflects light from it's surface.
Cleavage: A mineral that splits easily a long the surface has the property called cleavage.
Fracture: a fracture describes when a rock breaks in an uncommon way.
Fluorescence: Minerals that glow under ultraviolet light.

outline


  • What is a mineral?

    • naturally occurring

    • inorganic

    • solid

    • crystal structure

    • definite chemical composition

  • Identifying Minerals

    • hardness

    • color

    • streak

    • luster

    • density

    • crystal system

    • Cleavage and fracture

    • Special properties